Opportunities for Chenango, Inc.

Street Address:
44 West Main St.
Norwich, NY 13815-0470
Mailing Address:PO Box 470
44 West Main ST
Norwich, NY 13815-0470

Phone: 607-334-7114
Fax: 607-336-6958
Website: www.ofcinc.org

Contact Name: Carol Demarais
Phone: 607-336-2101x123
Fax:
Email: cdemarais@quarantahousing.org


Staff Size: Full Time: 108    Part Time: 16

Background
In October, 1965, Opportunities for Chenango, Inc. (OFC, Inc.) was chartered as the Community Action Agency for Chenango County, New York. One of the lasting results of President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty is a network of nearly 1000 Community Action Agencies serving 98 percent of the counties in the United States and Puerto Rico. The very first service offered by OFC, Inc. was Neighborhood Youth Corps that provided employment and recreational opportunities for eligible youth throughout the county. Since then, the agency has grown to include a county-wide Early Head Start and Head Start Program, a Family Support Center, WIC, Weatherization, Home Ownership and Home Repair programs, Section 8 Housing Assistance, Literacy Volunteers of America and, in 2001, CHEDCo, a subsidiary housing and enterprise development corporation. In 2001, OFC, Inc. joined the NeighborWorks(r) network.

Mission
Opportunities for Chenango, Inc. (also known as OFC, Inc.) is a Community Action Agency (CAA) committed to supporting families and individuals to recognize their strengths, set realistic goals, make responsible choices, and become successful, self-sufficient members of our community. We achieve our mission through programs that focus on child and family development, housing security, life skills training, education, literacy, health and nutrition, community, employment and economic development.

Total Operating Expense (9/30/2007): $7,666,513

 Lines of Business
  • Asset and Property Management

  • Community Based Economic Development

  • Community Building and Organizing

  • Home Ownership Promotion Services

  • Lending and Loan Portfolio Management


    • National NeighborWorks ® Programs
  • NeighborWorks Campaign for Home Ownership
  • NeighborWorks Rural Initiative

    • Accomplishments in FY 2008
  • Provided 63 families with pre- and post- purchase housing counseling.
  • Rehabilitated or repaired 92 rental or owner occupied units (1-4 units).
  • Assisted 24 families in purchasing a home through homeownership counseling, downpayment, closing cost or financing assistance.
  • Owned or managed 3 rental units.
  • Invested $48,070 in the community through Opportunities for Chenango, Inc.'s revolving loan fund, which leveraged $4,113,756 from conventional lenders and other sources.
  • Total direct investment in the community is $4,161,826.

    • Community Services
  • Community Building

  •  Business/Merchant Relationship

  •  Community Outreach and Organizing

  •  Community Planning

  •  Leadership Training

  •  Neighborhood Festivals

  •  Small Business Development

  • Family Health Programs

  •  English as a Second Language Classes

  •  Job Training / Youth Employment Project

  • Financial Planning and Assistance

  •  Down-payment Assistance

  •  Elderly Tax Information

  •  Financial Education

  •  Foreclosure Prevention Training

  •  Reverse Mortgage

  • Green Building and Home Improvement

  •  Energy Conservation Programs

  •  Environmental Friendly Building Materials

  •  Home Maintenance Training

  •  Home Safety and Security

  •  Indoor Environment Quality

  •  Lead Poison Prevention

  • Housing Programs and Home Ownership Counseling

  •  Home Ownership Counseling

  •  HomeBuyers Club

  •  Housing for Elderly

  •  Housing for Handicapped

  •  Housing for Homeless

  •  Rental Housing

  •  Section 8 Housing

  •  Transitional Housing for Homeless Families


    • Board of Directors
    NameBoard Role/TitleSectorCompany/OrganizationJob Title
    Holly AbbottBoard Vice PresidentOtherOxford Public Schools 
    William R AitkenBoard TreasurerFinancial InstitutionNBT BankcorpRetired
    William BerthelBoard MemberLocal GovernmentVillage of New Berlin 
    Terry J BresinaBoard 2nd Vice PresidentLocal GovernmentDesignee - City of NorwichRetired
    Chris CalhounBoard PresidentBusinessOSG Norwich PharmaceuticalsPresident
    Martha FullerBoard MemberResidentHead Start Representative 
    Linda L GuinnBoard MemberLocal GovernmentDesignee - Town of Norwich 
    Richard MackayBoard Assistant SecretaryResident Retired
    Daryl MulwaneBoard MemberResidentNYS Department of TransportationDispatcher
    Dorlene NorrisBoard MemberResident  
    Mark PhilipponeBoard MemberResident  
    Robert T StarrBoard MemberLocal GovernmentDesignee - Town of New Berlin 
    Bradd VickersBoard SecretaryNon-Profit InstitutionChenango County Farm BureauDirector

    About the NeighborWorks ® Network
    The NeighborWorks® network is a nationwide network of more than 240 community development organizations working in nearly 4358 urban, suburban and rural communities across America. These organizations engage in revitalization strategies that strengthen communities and transform lives. In the last five years alone, NeighborWorks® organizations have generated more than $8.5 billion in reinvestment and helped more than 500,000 families of modest means purchase or improve their homes or secure safe, decent rental or mutual housing.

    NeighborWorks ® America Contact Information
    District:  Northeast
    Name:  Leonora Davis
    Phone:  212-269-6553x29
    Toll-Free:  
    Fax:  
    Email:  ledavis@nw.org